INTEGRATION OF MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL SIGNAL PRIORITY SYSTEMS

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) of Illinois is leading the study and development of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) involving transit in the northeastern Illinois region. This paper presents the RTA's need and study approach for an integrated signal priority system. It includes a section describing independent studies and demonstrations currently taking place by transit operators utilizing signal priority systems in the region. A project description and status of each study are presented with the purpose of the study. Technologies under investigation for signal priority treatment are also described. The paper also includes the RTA's approach to identifying technical, operational, and institutional issues that need to be addressed prior to execution of an integrated multijurisdictional signal priority system and describes major tasks that are necessary to resolve these issues. The paper presents the RTA's approach to the designation of intersections as being either high, medium or low priority locations.